KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 14

A giant white teddy bear, a symbolic representation for spreading awareness about the impact of air pollution on children, along with a child campaigner, today reached New York to draw attention to the impact of air pollution on children and push world leaders attending the Global Goals Summit to take action to protect children's future.

The bear, known as 'Saathi: The Air Bear' in Nepal, has been travelling with climate activists around Nepal in a truck for the past six months to highlight the impact of air pollution. The fur of the teddy named Saathi, has gone from bright white to dark grey.

The bear will be accompanied at the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals Action Weekend in New York by child activist Anuska, 17, who will speak about the pressing need for substantive progress by the governments to advance the globally agreed goals, including the goal to protect the planet so that it can support the present and future generations.

The latest update of the Air Quality Life Index from the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago has estimated that air pollution is the most significant threat to human health in Nepal, reducing life expectancy by 4.6 years on average.

Nepal has been ranked the third most polluted country globally after Bangladesh and India. Air pollution is also linked to respiratory diseases, heart problems, and even cognitive impairment in children.

In the lead up to the Summit, Anuska said, 'Our future hangs in the balance due to climate change. My message at the SDG Summit will underscore the significance of world leaders attuning themselves to the lived experiences of children rather than basing their decisions on perspectives unfamiliar to children.'

Ayush Joshi, Director for Advocacy, Campaigns, Communications, and Media at Save the Children in Nepal, said the post-COVID-19 era had witnessed setbacks in achieving many of the SDG targets despite commendable efforts of the government.

A version of this article appears in the print on September 15, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.